The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-10-12
WHAT COL. BOB OGDEN SAYS,
(MascOt, Sept. /. 1888 \

\""eoot, oepI. 1, 1000.
An attache of the Mascot ran again
# the genial and accomplished Speak
: of the House of Representatives, I'll
e Hon. Robt. N. Ogden, on the stree
f yesterday, and the following conve
!, satlon ensued:
Rep. Hello! Colonel, glad to Sc
you back, come home for good, suE
pose, to take part in the campaign
Col. No! l must go back to m
family. My boy is sick.
, Rep. You and the General are sti
at loggerheads, I see7
Col. Yes; the General is down O.
me very much | hear.
Rep. l see you have refused to sup
port him for the gubernatorial nomi
nation9
Col. How do you know that?
Rep. The General told me so him
self.
Col. All! Well, he is is right;
ITO not intend to support him, and
desire all my friends to follow my ex
ample.
Rep. l think you are down on tn,
General more than be is on you.
Col. If l am, I have good cause te
be; will submit the case to auv fair
minded gentleman to decide whethe,
am justified, and if | have done
aught but what any other man would
have done under tile same circum.
stances.
Rep. Did the misunderstanding rise
from private or political canses9
Col. Well, both. 1t originated in
the Wilt Ogden campaign, you might
say, but Fred Ogden's conduct on an
other occasion in regard to matter
that was purely personal and which
affected my character and reputation
was the prime cause Of my change of
opinion of him.
Rep. You had long been fast and
intimate friends, had you not?
Col. Why we were brought up to-
gether. He was raised in my fathers
honse and | was very much surprised
to find him so coquettish and vacilla-
ting as he showed himself in the mat
ter of his candidacy for the nomination
for Governor in 1880. I'll tell you
how it was, and you can Judge for
yourself. Whpn lie was first asked if
he would allow his name to be used,
he stated most positively that he would
not be candidate under any circum-
stances; l was very anxious for him
to accept, and strongly urged him, Il
woald have, of course, given him my
heartiest support,) but my efforts were
unavailing. Ascertaining this fact,
Mr.. Wilt solicited my support. As
Fred was not out of the race there was
no choice in the matter, as l would
rather support Wilt than any other
candidate named and expressed to Mr..
Witt my intention of giving him my
most earnest support. A short time
after, while l was actively engaged in
laying off a spirited canvass for Mr..
Witt, l was surprised to hear that at
the instigation of John Fitzpatrick
and others Fred Ogden had finally
come out as candidate. This action
absolutely appalled, me. l had al
ready pledged myself to oupport Wilt
and | could not oppose my own cousin
and friend so here | was in pretty
Tx. The more thought of the mat
ter the more saw that Fred had done
wrong and had injured his cause. I
also saw that Fred Ogden was not tie
man | took him for, and my estimate
Of his strength of character was con-
siderably diminished. Satisfying my
self that Fred was actually in the
field, | Immediately repaired to Mr..
Witt, laid the facts of my case before
him and placed myself in his hands. |
Mr.. Wilt very generously relieved me
Of all pledges and promises that l had
previously made him and gave me as
'urances Of his continued friendship no
natter what steps I might take or
What might be the result of the can
'ass. | was much moved by this ex-
libition of friendship on the part of
Mr.. Wilt, and after weighing the
natter thoroughly in my mind, | de-
ermined to keep out of the fight en-
irely, and so informed Fred of course
le was not pleased at this aud became
'ery wrathy and irritated about it, but
ny mind was made up, and SO we
parted. Previous to my election to
he speakership I was iercely assailed
~ my enemies on all sides, notably
~ one Butler, who publicly declared
hat General Fred Ogden had charac-
erized me as a "dirty dog" Fred
new that this was being said to me,
et never took the trouble to deny that
e had ever said so, nor even to in
orm me of the utterances being made.
When l did Though accidentally be-
ONE aware of the outrageous ISLANDERS
hat were being circulated against me,
nd that Fred Ogden was mentioned
s the authority, I Immediately wrote
0 Fred asking him for letter to pub.
sh SO that | might silence such iniu-
Ious reports. Well, he wrote me a
etter, but it was letter which lower
d my estimation of Fred Ogden's pri-
ate character as we'll as public. That !
stter is now in my possession. While